Status Of Physical And Mental Health And Affecting Factors Of The Middle-aged And Elderly People In Rural Areas

Objectives To evaluate the physical and mental health status of 2311 elderly people in rural areas of Qingdao by SF-36 questionnaire and to find the relative influencing factors, so as to provide scientific suggestions for improving the living status of the middle-aged and elderly people in rural areas. Methods 2311 middle-aged and elderly people from rural areas of Qingdao City were selected as subjects by random cluster sample method, and were investigated face to face including general conditions, nutritional knowledge, habits and chronic disease-related knowledge. SF-36 questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life and the standard of International Quality of Life Assessment Project (IQLA) was used for scoring. Results The life quality level of males was higher than that of females in rural areas (P< 0.05). Scores of physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain and general health in four dimensions decreased along with aging. For the 2311 subjects, scores of more than one dimension decreased along with aging and increased along with increasing levels of physical activity, economic and education. The physical and mental health status of those who had a spouse was better than those who have not. There were significant differences between the two groups in the physical function, role physical, general health and social function (P<0.05). Compared with American models, middle-aged and elderly people from rural areas obtained lower scores for physical component (76.44<84.15, but they had higher scores for body pain (85.3>75.15). Scores of four dimensions of mental health were higher than American models. They had a better health status of physical and mental than those from Changsha community (P <0.05). Conclusion The physical and mental health status of male elderly people is better than that of females in rural areas. The life quality decreased along with aging in rural areas and increased along with increasing levels of physical activity, economic and education. The physical and mental health status of those who had a spouse was better than those who have not.